Intermittent gauge control for constantly operating machines



Emma 31 flggg. RlMBERG 2 145,?@

INTERlVIiTTENT GAUGE CONTROL FOR GONSTANTLY OPERATING MACHINES Filed June 23, 1938 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 31, 1939 2,145,574

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INTERMITTENT GAUGE CONTROL FOR CON STAN TLY OPERATING MACHINES Harry Rimberg, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application June 23, 1938, Serial No. 215,350 6 Claims. (01. 192-127) This invention relates to gauge controls for consame reference characters throughout the several stantly operating machines and to gauge conviews.

trols for intermittently gauging or alining the In the drawing is shown a diagrammatic View work. showing a device embodying the invention. One object of the invention is to provide an im- The advantages of the invention as here outproved device of the character described having lined are best realized when all of its features improved means whereby a gauge controls both and instrumentalities are combined in one and the starting and stopping of a normally constantthe same structure, but, useful devices may be ly operating machine, which gauge is intermitproduced embodying less than the whole.

tently responsive .to the work and performs its It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to w operation while permitting continuous operation which the invention appertains, that the same of the machine on the work. may be incorporated in several different con- Accordingly the invention is applicable to many structions. The accompanying drawing, theretypes of work, as for measuring size, shape, fore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred weight, color, or for gauging the position or alineexemplification of the invention. ment of the work, with the intention and for the Referring in detail to the drawing, I0 denotes purpose that the starting and stopping of the maa device embodying the invention. The same chine may be controlled according to the invenmay include one or more gauges, or indicators tion and that the operation of the machine shall for size, shape, weight, color or position, illus- 2O normally continue without interruption. Thus tratively shown as the feeler-type electrical the machine is rendered capable of either producswitches H, but which may also be photosensitive ing uniform results or of preventing improper elements, and the like, responsive to a required work from interfering with the normal operation condition. Each switch Il may have a feeler of the machine. element l 2 pivoted at 13 and normally held out of By the term work as used herein is particularly contact with the element M by a delicate strip 25 meant work which is discontinuous or consists of spring l5. When a sheet of paper "5, shown in separate articles, especially where the work is fed dot-dash lines, is inserted into a machine and through the machine in this manner; but the inpresses against both feeler elements I2, both vention is applicable also to work of a continuous switches I I are closed. Thus it is determined that character. the sheet of paper is in correct alinement with the 30 More specifically, the invention is applicable to feeding or folding or other mechanism or devices the so called Dexter folder machines and Quad of the machine. folder machines, both of which are well known Associated with the switches H is any retarded on the market. In these machines, a sheet of or lockable device which may include a solenoid paper must be accurately alined for the folding I! the coil of which is connected at l8 to a source 35 device, disalinement not only resulting in destrucof current, and the circuit including a conductor tion of the work, but also causing the machine 19 that may be connected to a switch I I as at 3, to jam. These machines act on different sheets both switches ll being suitably interconnected by of paper at high speed, and in a continuous mana conductor 20, the circuit being completed by a ner. While long sought for, no suitable device lead 2|. Accordingly, if one of the switches is 40 has heretofore been found for fulfilling these open, the described circuit for the solenoid I! is conditions. open. If desired, an indicator lamp 22 may be It is therefore an object of the invention to connected across the solenoid. provide a device which shall fulfill the objects Actuated by the solenoid is a core having a of this invention and be well adapted for practical head 23 which is normally outwardly moved by 45 use. the tension coil spring 24 when the solenoid is de- Other objects of the invention and advantages energized. This head 23 controls a plurality of thereof will become apparent as the specification switches 25, 26, of which the head 23 may carry proceeds. the insulated contacts 2'! for the companion con- With the aforesaid objects in view, the inventact elements 28. Thus if the solenoid I1 is ener- 50 tion consists in the novel combinations and argized, both switches 25, 26 are closed simultanerangements of parts hereinafter described in ously. their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the Cooperating with the switches 25, 26 is an insubjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed termittently operating switch means for controldrawing, wherein like parts are designated by the ling operation of the machine, this switch means M 2 29 introducing a retardation or lag so timed as to prevent interruption in the continued operation of the machine. For example, the switch means may include a pair of switches 30, 3| whose intermittent open positions occur at different times. As a whole, the switch means 29 operates in timed relation to the action of the indicator devices II, or to the completion of their action.

By way of illustration, I employ an actuator 32 rotating constantly at uniform speed and being of any desired size, and having an insulated cam element at 33 for successively opening the switches 30, 3|. Also carried by the actuator 32 is an eccentric pin 34 that works in the fork 35 of a lever 36 oscillatable about its pivot 31. Operated by the free end of the lever is a means, for instance, a head or finger 38 for periodically contacting and moving the sheet of paper |6 away from the indicator switches Each switch 30, 3| is normally closed, having a spring contact arm 39 for its fixed companion contact 40. With the actuator rotating in the direction of the arrow 4|, it is seen that the switch 35 is located in advance of the switch 3|, the cam 33 successively engaging the spring contacts 39 of these switches to open the same.

Desirably the switch 25 is connected in series with the switch 3| as by a conductor 42 and a conductor 43 connected to the return line 2| of the circuit. It is noted that the contact 28 is connected to the conductor l9.

From the switch 30 extend a plurality of conductors 44, 45, which lead to the power circuit of the machine 45a, and which may carry a higher voltage than the circuits hereinbefore described. These conductors 44 may be connected to the switch 26 as at 46, 41 so that the switches 26 and 30 are in parallel. A switch 48 for cutting out the machine control may be connected across the switch 26.

It will be understood that the switches may be gravitationally as well as spring operated and may also consist of mercury switches and the like.

The speed at which the device I0 is intended to operate may be indicated from the fact that the switches operate once every to of a second, and the solenoid operates every /6 to of a second, which indicates the reason for using a solenoid instead of a relay. The switches 25, 26, 30 and 3| operate at correspondingly high speeds.

In operation, the machine is started by placing a sheet of paper IE to close the indicator switches causing the solenoid to be energized. The latter closes the switches 25, 26, of which the switch 25 keeps the solenoid |'I energized, subject to the timed intermittent operation of the switch 3|, even if the switches become open. The circuit 44, 45 to the machine is closed by either of the switches 28 and 30, so that the machine shall not be stopped, these switches being arranged to open at different periods of time. Because the switch 3| is closed while the switch 30 is open, assurance is had that the relay is not deenergized and the switch 26 opened while the switch 30 is open. Should it happen that a sheet of paper does not close the two switches H, the solenoid I1 remains deenergized and the switch 23 remains open; then when the switch 30 opens, the machine stops. According to one point of view, it may be said that the time interval between the switches 3|], 3| allows for the lag of the solenoid IT, to assure opening of the relay at the proper time.

Obviously, the indicator means I I may indicate any desired condition, and may, for instance, be a gravity indicator upon which the element l6 may rest or from which it may be suspended,

It is thus seen that the invention comprises an indicator l, a first intermittent machine control 30, a second intermittent retarded means H, 25, 26, and 3| operated by indicator H for controlling the machine, the latter being operative by either means, and the second means being released subsequent to operation of the first means. The switch 3| may or may not be considered a part of the means that includes the parts I1, 25 and 26. If the switch 3| be considered an independent member for intermittently releasing the means I1, 25, 26, then the latter may or may not operate at regularly recurrent time intervals.

I claim:

1. A device including a gauge means for a desired condition of an article, a retarded means controlled by the gauge means, a circuit, and an intermittently operating switch therefor, the retarded means including means for releasing the same subsequent to the operation of the intermittently operating switch, and the retarded means including means for closing said circuit while the intermittently operating switch is open and for opening while the intermittently operating switch closes the circuit, and the circuit controlling means of the retarded means being open when the retarded means is released.

2. A device including a gauge means for determining a required condition of an article, a first switch means and a second switch means, a machine adapted for continuous operation for acting on the article, said machine including a power circuit having a plurality of branch circuits, the first switch means intermittently opening and closing to control one of said branch circuits, the second switch means being retarded and operating intermittently and opening and closing the other of said branch circuits, the second switch means being controlled by the gauge means, the machine being operative by both said branch circuits, and the first switch operating subsequently to the branch circuit controlling operation of the second switch.

3. A device including a gauge means for deter mining a desired condition of an article to be acted upon by a constantly operating machine, a first means and a second means, the second means being intermittently actuated by the gauge means and being retarded, said second means controlling the starting and stopping of said machine, the first means operating intermittently and controlling the starting and stopping of said machine, either of said means being adapted to cause operation of said machine, and the first means acting to cause stopping of the machine while the second means acts to cause operation of the machine, the retardation of the second means being sufiicient to prevent coincident machine stopping operation of both of said means, and a prolonged inoperative position of the second means causing coincident operation of the first and second means to stop the machine.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the first and second means comprise a member movable along a path for successively causing operation of the first means and release of the second means.

5. A device including an indicator for determining the condition of an article to be acted upon by a constantly operating machine, a solenoid having a circuit closable by said indicator,

a first and a second switch closed by the solenoid when the latter is energized, a third and a fourth switch, both of the latter being normally closed, actuator means for causing timed successive intermittent opening of the third and fourth switches, the first switch being in series with the fourth switch and the solenoid for delayed deenergization of the latter, the second switch being connected to a machine operating circuit in parallel with the third switch, the solenoid being deenergized by opening of the fourth switch, and the actuator means causing release of the article from the indicator.

6. A device including a gauge means for determining a desired condition of an article to be acted on by a machine, a first means and a second means, the latter being actuated by the gauge means, an intermittently operating memher cooperating with said second means to releasably retard operation thereof, the second means being adapted for controlling the starting and stopping of the machine, the first means operating intermittently and controlling the start- 5 ing and stopping of said machine, either of the first and second means being adapted to cause operation of the machine, the retardation of the second means being sufficient to prevent coincident machine stopping operation of the first and 1 second means simultaneously, the operation of the said member being subsequent to the operation of said first means, and a prolonged inoperative position of the second means permitting coincident operation of the first and second means 1 to stop the machine.

HARRY RIMBERG. 

